Qatar Airways announces new world’s longest flight

March 1003:192016

Qatar Airways formally announced plans for nonstop service between Doha, Qatar, and Auckland, New Zealand. The route would become the world’s longest when it launches Dec. 3, based on current schedules. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has previously suggested Qatar Airways might pick up the route, though the airline did not officially move to add the flight until Wednesday’s announcement.

The route would bump Emirates’ Dubai-Auckland route – which just took the title for “world’s longest route” this month – to second place. Qatar Airways plans to fly its Doha-Auckland route with Boeing 777 aircraft. Qatar Airways revealed the Auckland news amid a broader 14-route announcement made at the ITB Berlin travel conference.

The carrier’s other new routes included five destinations in Europe, six in Africa and two in Asia. “Qatar Airways prides itself on being a global connector, and most importantly, providing seamless and convenient connections for our customers, so that we remain their airline of choice,” Al Baker says in a statement. “These new destinations are where our customers want to go, and where we see the most opportunity to provide a best-in-class experience at great value.”